Make an I SPY bottle! This standard kid craft is so clever and ingenious, it has stood the test of time, wowing children since the birth of the plastic water bottle (if not before!). It's allure is nigh unbeatable and I can see why! An I SPY bottle is so simple to make! Kids can even help.
The idea includes these simple materials:
Empty (and dry) water bottle, rice, small trinkets that fit inside, tape or glue to seal the opening (So little ones don't choke on trinkets).
And Presto-Chango! You have an instant activity that is cheap, fun and portable!
Here's a few ways we rock the I SPY bottle:
~We always play supervised-even when it's sealed...my daughter swallowed a dime recently, so I'm not taking any chances!
~We like the Voss Water Bottle brand (pictured above) for it's wide mouth opening and sleek symmetrical design.
~We only fill our bottle 2/3 full-perfect for shaking it up!
~ We like color, texture, shapes, letters and numbers when it comes to putting trinkets inside.
~Some good objects to start with are assorted beads and Mylar confetti- they're both small can carry that "wow" factor.
~We throw in a few familiar objects, so they can squeal "Hey, there's my..." and take ownership of what's inside.
This post is also part of I Blame My Mother's Kid Friendly Friday!
Thanks for the Vos water bottle tip, it was such a pain trying to find things that would fit in a regular water bottle when we did it a few months ago!
ReplyDeleteYou always show the coolest projects!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I think my son would love it just for the noise it would make shaking it all around!
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I've seen these at the store and they are at least $20. You could also color the rice. I like the last suggestion of putting the kid's things in there!! I'm putting this on my list for things to take on our trip this summer.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a GREAT idea! I have been wanting to make one...but the thought of sewing has made me not want to do it. I am going to try this out! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love making bottles for my little ones! We have quite a few. The one like yours has different colored rice, ribbon, feathers, pompoms and a bell. I like using different bottles, shapes, sizes and colors. He likes to roll them because they all do different things. http://ayearofbalance.blogspot.com/2009/04/nikolas-is-loving-sensory-bottles.html
ReplyDeleteI have seen the cute I Spy sewn ones, with the clear window and fabric, but a bottle is so much easier. Love the Vos tip too,
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic idea!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to make these. Thanks for the motivation to finally do it!
ReplyDeleteWe made these a couple years ago and they turned out great. I just used a big water bottle and a funnel to get everything inside. We didn't use rice though because I wanted it to be brighter. You know those little "beads" that kids place on pegboards, then they get ironed to fuse them together? I don't know what they're called but you can easily find them in the craft aisles. We used those and I loved how they turned out.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! Off to make one right now. :)
ReplyDeleteVal
I just found you and I love your ideas :) I can't wait to look a little deeper in your blog. This I spy is fun. I'll have to keep an eye open for one of these water bottles!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, Michelle! I'm saving this one for our long car trip to the beach this summer.
ReplyDeleteI love it, I am going to have to find the same kind of bottle that you used. I've seen tutes to make these before, but they never had the perfect bottle for it, like you. We just got an I Spy Bag for ER but I know she'd like a bottle too and how fun to be involved in putting the treasures inside.
ReplyDeleteSO simple and so fun! The boys would love it! Can't wait to find the perfect bottle!
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea! Would be a great thing to take along in the car on a journey!
ReplyDeleteThese are great even for older children ;) I made a board game themed one for a teenager who LOVES games. I used a ton of game pieces I found at garage sales. I then lay out all the pieces take a picture of the times so they know what there is to find, laminate the picture and use a hole punch and rubber bands to "adhere" it to the mouth of the bottle. I have used pickle jars, spaghetti jars etc. I use a glue gun to seal the lid on.
ReplyDeleteI have also used either sand or bird seed mix to fill the jars. The bird seed mix is the best because of all the colors in it makes it more difficult to find the items for older children.
I have made 3 of them as gifts and they are always a big hit~The adults like them too :D
Sorry for the book ;) Just love I Spy Jars!
~Amy
I am lovin this idea!!!! Can't wait to make it for my little ones!!!
ReplyDeleteAdorable, love the water bottle. I just made my first eye-spy bottles with my girls and blogged about it today. They're so fun and I can't wait to make more : )
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea! I can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHow did you get the labeling off the bottle? Did the rice leave a dust/film on everything inside?
ReplyDeleteThe sticker came off using "goo gone".
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